Joint UN-Congolese Strategy Needed To Address Insecurity Following Deadly Attacks In Eastern DRC

Riyaz Patel

There has been urgent calls on the authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the UN peacekeeping operation in the country, MONUSCO, to develop a comprehensive joint strategy to address insecurity in Beni territory, located in the east. 

The recommendation follows an independent assessment into deadly attacks allegedly carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) armed group during the latter part of last year, which sparked violent protests against the DRC government and the UN. 

The assessment team—which included political, military and logistics specialists—sought to establish the circumstances surrounding the attacks in Beni, located in North Kivu province, as well as  assaults in Mambasa territory in neighbouring Ituri province targeting the national and international response to the deadly Ebola virus outbreak . 

Team members were evaluating the MONUSCO Force’s ability to deliver on mandated tasks that include civilian protection, neutralizing armed groups, and providing a secure environment for those tracking the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the region.  

They found that presumed ADF combatants killed more than 260 people, mostly women and children,